Machine for making helical binders and binding loose leaf books therewith



Nov. 22, 1960 A. FREUNDLHCH MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BIND ERS AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BOOKS THEREWITH '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1955 INVENTOR. ALBEP? ICZJEUNOLICH FOE/V5? Ti l5.

Nov. 221, 1960 A. FREUNDLICH 2,951,312

MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BINDERS AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BOOKS THEREWITH 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1955 I N VEN TOR. ALBERT FQEU wuc l-l ATTOIQIYEY 196% A. FREUNSLECH MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BINDERS AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BOOKS THEREWITH Filed July 1a, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet s 00. @1 7 .7 n x d Nov, 22, 1960 A. FREUNDLICH 9 3 MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BINDER-S AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BQOKS THEREWITH '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1955 INVENTOR. flaps-27' ffeswvoucfl 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. FREUNDLECH mllllm I WIUHIW MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BINDERS AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BOOKS THEREWITH Nov. 22, 1960 Filed July 18, 1955 Arrop/vsy 1960 A. FREUNDLECH 2,961,12

MACHINE FOR MAKING HELICAL BINDERS AND BINDING LOOSE LEAF BOOKS THEREWI'IH 7 Sheets-Sheet. 6

Filed July 18, 1955 I IL 1. E U

I N V EN TOR. 1448597 IZeuzvDucH United States Patent 7 MACHWE FUR MAKLJG HELICAL BINDERS AND BENDHNG LQOSE LEAF 300KB THEREWITH Albert Frenndiich, New York, N.Y., assignor to Frennd= Rich-Gomez Machinery Corp, {Zollege Point, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 18, 1955, Ser. No. 522,612

12 Claims. (Cl. 149-923) This invention relates to a machine and method for binding books, particularly books of the type in which a plurality of sheets are loosely bound together by means of a helical binder which passes through a row of registering openings forming a row of passages through a margin of the superposed sheets.

In certain previous devices used for binding books of the character described, the perforated sheets are held in position with the holes to be threaded in alignment with each other and a coiled wire is fed through the holes directly from a feed spool or wire and the proper length of binder is cut after it is assembled with the book. If for some reason, the wire does not feed through and the leading end contacts an obstruction, it becomes distorted or pierces the paper. This action takes place because the feed of the wire is continuous and the helical binder portion of the Wire cannot be stopped or held back while the obstruction is removed. When this happens, the binding operation must be discontinued.

In other prior devices, the helical binders are preformed and pre-cut to size and are then fed to the bookbinding machine. Many of such devices require complex guides, clamps and various movable members for performing the desired binding operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention, to provide a device for binding a plurality of marginally perforated sheets with a helical binder wherein means are provided for forming and cutting a helical binder to proper length from a spool of wire and then threading it through the leaves.

With such construction, if the binder strikes an obstruction, it can stop momentarily and be retracted and as it is turned, it can be vibrated until it is disengaged from the obstruction so that it can be fed through the leaves. Furthermore, the operation and formation of the helical bander originates from a spool of wire and proceeds to the bound book thus making it unnecessary for separately making the helical binder coils. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described which is automatic in operation and comparatively simple in construction and which forms and cuts a helical binder to the proper length and efficiently feeds the binder into perforations in pages to be bound together and thereafter cuts and locks the ends of the binder in position in the margin of the book.

In general, the principles and objects of the invention are accomplished by the provision of a machine including means for feeding a wire from a spool into apparatus for forming a helical binder of the proper length and then cutting the binder from the spool. The length of binder coil is then directed automatically to the book binding position where it is aided into the holes in the edge of the book leaves by a friction operating roller which substantially prevents stoppage and distortion of the coils of wire. At the same time the wire shapes and aligns the openings in adjacent sheets so that feed-through of 2,961,012 Patented Nov. 22, 1960 the wire is simplified and promoted. Since the wire is cut to length and removed from contact with the spool, a momentary stoppage does not affect the entire wire spool system as in prior art devices and feed is readily continued without stopping the machine.

When the spiral binding has been fed through the holes in the pages, it strikes a switch which operates the wire cutting and bending mechanism after which the book clamp is released and the book is removed. The operation is then repeated for the next book. The invention is described in greater detail by reference to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the binding machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view aiong the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 77 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine of Fig. 1, said portion including mechanism for feeding wire from a spool, forming it into the spiral binder of the desired length and then cutting it off at the desired length;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9A is an elevational view of a portion of the die shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view along the line 10-10 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view, partly in section of a portion of the wire cutting mechanism of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along the line 1212 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along the line 1313 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view along the line 1515 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view along the line 16-16 in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view along the line 17--17 in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a detailed plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 14 and including the helical wire feeding mechanism, the book and book holding apparatus, and the means for releasing the book after it has been bound;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged elevational view of the helical wire guide means shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view along the line 2tl2tl in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view along the line 21-21 in Fig. 18;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view along the line 2222 in Fig. 18;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view along the line 2323 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the wire end cutting and crimping means of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view along the line 2525 in Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a side elevational view, partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a rear elevational view, partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 24;

Fig. 27A is sectional view along the line 27A27A in Fig. 27;

Fig. 28 is a sectional view along the line 2828 in Fig. 25;

Bearings 56 for the shaft 52 are shown.

Fig. 29 is a sectional view along the line 29-29 in Fig. 24;

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of a corner of the bound portion of a book bound by the machine of Fig. lshowing the cut and crimped end of the helical wire binder; V Fig, 31 is an elevational view or the book binder construction resulting from the operation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 32 is a sectional view along the line 32-32 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 33 is a sectional view along the line 3333 in Fig. 32; and

Fig. 34 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuit employed in operating the machine of Fig. l.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, particularly first to Fig. 1, the numeral designates a device embodying the principles of the invention. The device 10 comprises a table which includes support legs 13 and a top member 14 having an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 18 and a front edge 20. At the right hand end of the top member as shown in Fig. 1, a portion is cut out to receive a storage cabinet 22 having a top surface 24 on which is supported a housing 26 which is associated with the helical wire binder forming apparatus. In the cabinet is provided a spool 28 of wire 30 which is concealed by a hinged door 32 forming a portion of the cabinet 22.

Helical binder forming apparatus The helical binder forming apparatus includes a hollow tubular guide 34 supported in the top wall 24 of the cabinet 22 through which the wire 30 is fed from the spool 28 to a helical wire binder forming housing which carries the components of the binder forming apparatus and is secured to the housing 26. When the wire emerges from the guide tube 34 it is fed between a pair of guide plates 44 and 46 (Fig. 3) and drawn between feed rollers 48 and 50 which are mounted on shafts 52 and 54, respectively. The shafts 52 and 54 extend through the binder forming housing 42 (Fig. 4) in suitable bearings. The shaft 54 extends only to the side of the housing 42 opposite wire feed roller 50 and there carries a gear 58 keyed thereto (Fig. 5). The shaft 52 extends beyond the housing 42 and the end thereof is supported in a suitable bearing block 60 mounted on the housing 26. On the side of the housing remote from the roller 48 a gear 62 is mounted on the shaft 52 and meshes with the gear 58 keyed to the shaft 54. The gear 62 is a driving gear rotated by the shaft 52 and drives the gear 58. Rotation of the gears 58 and 62 causes rotation of the wire pulling wheels 50 and 48, respectively.

Referring again to Fig. 4, an intermittently operating clutch 64 is mounted on the rotatable shaft 52 and is, preferably, a non-locking clutch of the type known as a Ball-Lok clutch sold by the V-Belt Clutch Company. The clutch 64 includes a normally free running idler 'wheel 66 coupled by a belt 68 to a pulley 70 mounted on a shaft 72 which is coupled to a' power source including a suitable gear box 74 and motor 76. The clutch also includes a rotatable shifter hub 78 keyed to the shaft 52 A fork member 84 is pivoted to hub 78 pins 86. When the hub 78 is out of engagement with the idler Wheel 66, the wheel does not rotate and the shaft 52 does not rotate. When the hub engages the idler wheel, due to the operation of the fork 84 the belt 68, frictionally driven by the pulley 70, rotates the idler wheel and the shaft 52.

The fork member 84 which controls the movement of the hub 78 into and out of engagement with the idler wheel 66 includes arms 88 extending substantially perpendicularly rearwardly from the shaft 52 where it is slidably supported at its remote end on a block 90.v A. second support block 92 (Fig. 7) is secured to the arms 88 of the fork member and an arm 94 is pivotally connected at one end to the support block 92 and is pivotally connected at its other end to one end of an arm 96 the other end of which is pivotally connected to a stationary support member 98 secured to the top member 14. A rod 100 vertically mounted is pivotally connected at its upper end to the arm 96 at a point intermediate the ends thereof and closer to the end which is connected to the arm 94. The bottom end of the rod 100 is connected to an armature 101 driven by a solenoid 102 of a relay 103 which controls the feeding of the wire and of the formation of a helical binder. The rod 100 is biased upwardly by a spring 104 secured to the lower surface of the top member 14 and which normally holds the rod in its most upwardly advanced posi tion whereby the fork member 84 holds the hub 78 out of engagement with the clutch idler wheel 66.

When the relay 103 is energized, the rod 100 is moved downward and this motion transmitted through the arms 96 and 94 and through the fork 84 moves the hub into engagement with the idler wheel and causes rotation thereof and of the shaft 52 and formation of a helical binder.

The wire binder forming housing 42 includes a top surface 106, a front surface 108, a rear surface and side surfaces 112 and 114. A die 116 for forming the helical binder is secured to the side wall 114 of the housing 42. Referring to Figs. 8, 9, 9A, and 10 the die comprises an elongated plate vertically disposed on the housing and having an end surface 118 facing down in which is formed a generally semicircular opening 119 having a plurality of cylindrical rods 120 horizontally disposed and spaced around the periphery of the opening. The rods 120 are positioned so that their outer surfaces are presented to the wire being formed as explained in greater detail below. The rods are constituted of some comparatively hard material, for example, cold rolled steel or the like.

A forming rod 122 cooperates with the die 116 in the binder forming operation and extends through the opening 119 in the die and is oriented substantially horizontally. The rod 122 has an elongated portion 124 sub stantially semi-circular in cross. section and having a curved surface 126 and a flat surface 128. The rod 122 is provided with a slot 130 in the form of one turn of a helix formed in the curved surface 126 thereof the slot being angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the rod 122, and this portion of the rod having the slot 130 is disposed within the opening 119 in the die.

The rod 122 has another portion 132 which is an extension of the portion 124 and has a curved surface 134 aligned with the flat surface 128 of the portion 124 and a fiat surface 136 facing up and aligned with the curved surface 126 of the portion '124 of the rod 122. The rod 122 has an end face 138. Die adjusting means in the form of knurled knobs 140 or the like are provided for adjusting the position of the die 116 in thehousing 42 with the position being determined by the size and type r of the binder helix to be formed and the like considerations. Means for spacing the turns of the helical binder is mounted on the housing 42 and comprises a carrier block 142 (Figs. 3 and 8) having a projecting finger 144 which is substantially rectangular in cross section and has a substantially planar lower surface 146. The finger 144 is adjustably positioned in the block'142 by a nut 148 and is adapted to have the surface 146 in contact with the flat surface 136 of the portion 132 of the rod 122. Thus, the finger 144,is employed as a spacer for spacing the turns of the helix as it is formed. Different thicknesses of spacer fingers may be provided for the different spacings of the turns which might be desired in the helical binder. The angular position of the block 142 may be varied as required also.

Informing the helical hinder, the wire 30 is fed by the wheels 48 and 50 up into the opening 119 in the die 116 where it proceeds within the slot 130. in the rod 122 and bears against the rods 120 in the opening in the die. As the wire follows the slot 130, it emerges from the opening 119 where its path is determined by the finger 144 and as the Wire is fed, the turns of the helix spaced apart the desired distance are formed.

Helical binder cutting mechanism Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, a cutting blade 150 is provided for cutting the wire 3% when a helical binder 151 has been formed to the proper length. The blade 156 is mounted in a slot in a carrier block 152 which is secured to the housing 42. The blade moves freely in the slot and is secured to a vertical arm 154 which is pivotally connected to the block 152 by means of a pin 156. A tension spring tee is connected between the arm 154 and the housing 42 and biases the arm toward the left as seen in Fig. 8 so that the blade does not cut the wire helix.

The arm 154 is provided intermediate its ends with a pin 158 and an arm 163 having a notch 162 adapted to cooperate with the pin 15% and thereby move the arm 154 and thereby operate the cutter blade 150 is connected to a horizontal shaft 164 which is pivotally connected at one end to an arm 166 mounted on a shaft 168. The shaft 163 is driven by an arm 170 secured at one end thereto and secured at its other end by a link 171 to an eccentric arm 172 which is adapted to rock the shaft 168 and wh'ch is secured to a shaft 174 mounted in bearing blocks 176 secured to the under portion of the top member 14.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, on the shaft 174 is mounted a one revolution clutch 178 which includes a rotatable disc 179 having a pin 180 which cooperates with a trip mechanism 182 secured to a plate 184 (Fig. 2) pivotally connected at one end to a vertically disposed rod 136 secured to an armature 188 (Fig. 2) operated by a solenoid 1% of a relay 192 called the one revolution clutch relay. A pulley 194 is mounted on the shaft 174 and is coupled by a belt 1% to a pulley 193 which is driven by the shaft 72 through a connection to the gear box 74. At the end of the shaft 174 is secured an eccentric arm 2% engaging an arm 292 (Figs. 2 and 12) coupled to a switch 293 which turns a timer mechanism 2G4 (Fig. 34) on and off.

In operation of this portion of the apparatus, when the relay 192 is properly energized, the trip mechanism 182 releases the one-revolution clutch which thereby to tates the shaft 174 one revolution during which rotation the shaft 168 is rotated and the arm 164 moves the arm 154 and the blade 150 is urged to cut the helix which has been formed.

Book binder apparatus Referring to Figs. 1, 18, 19, and 20 an elongated curved guide wire bridge 2% for guiding the helical wire binder from the forming die 116, after it is formed and cut to length, is secured at one end to the end face 138 of the rod 122 and extends to the book binding area of the apparatus on the table top 14 where its other end is secured to one end of a binder guide rod 298. The rod 268 has a first portion 2% axially aligned with the bridge 2% at a small angle to the horizontal and another portion 218 parallel to the horizontal. The rod 26?. is generally cylindrical in form and has a diameter substantially equal to that of the turns of the helical binder. The wire guide rod 2% has a generally tapered leading edge 211. A guide plate 212 is positioned above the guide rod 2% and is supported on the top member 14 by means of support rods 214.

Secured to the top member 4 is an L- shaped bracket 216 having an arm 21% extending parallel to the guide plate 212- and substantially parallel thereto. A guide member 229 is mounted on the arm 218 closely adjacent to the binder guide rod 2&8 and supported by posts 219. The top surface of the member 220 is provided 6 with a series of slots with the first slots 222 disposed at an angle to the vertical and the remainder of the slots 224 being substantially vertically disposed. Thus as the helical binder slides down the bridge, it enters the first slots 222 and, as it assumes a horizontal course, it smoothly proceeds into the slots 224.

Adjacent to the guide member 220 is secured a book clamp 226 and a binder guide plate 228 secured to the front edge of the top portion 14. The guide plate 228 is provided on its upper edge with a series of spaced slots 235B disposed at an angle to the vertical axis thereof and spaced apart an amount equal to the spacing of the holes in the leaves to be bound together. The guide plate 223 is aligned with the guide member 221} so that the slots in each one are serially aligned and the progress of the helical binder along the length of the table is smooth and unimpeded.

A book 232 to be bound comprises a multiplicity of superposed sheets 234 having two covers and provided with a row of registering perforations 236 along a margin thereof which in turn receive a spiral or helical binder 237. At the leading end of the guide plate 228 is mounted a hook-like member 238 comprising a flat shank portion 24!} which is secured to the guide plate 228 by means of a screw or the like. Extending from the shank 24% is an arcuate portion 242 curved on a predetermined radius. The arcuate portion has a substantially circular cross section and is formed with a groove 244 on the inner, uppermost portion thereof. As shown in Fig. 21, the groove is coextensive with the extent of the areaate portion of the member. The hook-like member 238 extends from the plate 223 at a predetermined angle to the edge thereof and is mounted so that it is aligned with a groove on the plate 228. A stop member 246 is provided at the far end of the plate 228 at the end of the binding apparatus and is used as a guide and as a stop for the back of the book to be bound to hold the sheets in their proper position. A contact switch 247 is provided adjacent to the end of the book near the stop member 246 and is contacted by the helical binder after it has been threaded completely through the book. The contact switch initiates a number of operations to be described below.

In using the apparatus, a plurality of sheets to be bound together and including cover sheets all of which have the usual marginal perforations are suspended at one end on the hook 238 and are pivoted in a clockwise direction until the other ends strike the stop member 246. When the leaves have been properly positioned, the book clamp 226 is moved into clamping position in contact with the sheets which are thus put under pressure and are held securely in position.

To promote the threading of the helical binder 237 in the book 232, apparatus is provided which is operated by and includes a foot-operated pedal 254} (Figs. 1 and 15) pivoted on a pin 251 carried by a support member 252 which may be secured to the floor or some other suitable base. The foot-pedal carries at its far end'a pin 253 on which is pivoted a vertically disposed link 254 (Figs. 15 and 17). A tension spring 249 interconnects the member 252 and the link 254. A generally bell-crank shaped lever member 255 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 266 driven in the manner hereinafter appearing. The shaft 266 is journalled in a bearing block 273 (Fig. 16) secured to a wall 275 which comprises a vertical extension of one side wall of the cabinet 22. Said member 256 comprises a rearwardly extending arm 257 carrying at one end a pin 259 secured to an arm 261. The arm 251 is slotted at the end remote from the pin 259 (Fig. 17) and receives in said slot a pin 263 which is secured to the link 254. A coil tension spring 265 connects said pin 263 and said pin 259. Said member 256 further comprises a forwardly extending arm 267 to the free end of which is rotatably secured a shaft 258 which carries a pulley 260 (Figs. 15 and 18) rotated by '7 a belt 262 coupled to another pulley 264 keyed to the shaft 266 driven by a belt 269 (Fig. 2) connecting a pulley 271on said shaft 266 with pulley 70.

On the shaft 258 is keyed a roller 268 having an outer surface of rubber or the like and having two fiat portions 270 formed thereon. When the foot pedal 258 is depressed, the lever 256 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 15) and the roller 268 is moved into contact with the helical binder being threaded into a book and operates to drive the'binder through the openings in the pages with the flat surfaces 278 vibrating the binder so that it can overcome obstructions in its path. A foot operated switch 271 is positioned adjacent to the foot pedal 250.

Book clamp operating mechanism The oscillating shaft 168 extends along the length of the top member 14 and is mounted in bearing blocks 274 at the rear of the top member 14. At the far end of the shaft is keyed a collar 276 (Figs. 14 and 23) which carries an arm 278 having a pointed leading edge 289. Adjacent to the arm and adapted to cooperate therewith is an elongated arm 282 having a sharp edge 284 at the end adjacent to the arm 278 and pivoted intermediate its ends on a support member 286 secured to the top member 14. A tension spring 288 secured between the support member 286 and the sharp end 284 of the arm 282 biases the arm 282 in a counter-clockwise direction. At' the other end of the arm is a rotatably mounted roller 298 which rides on the surface of a generally elliptical cam 292 keyed to a shaft 294 on which the bookclamp 226 is keyed.

On shaft 294 is also keyed a collar 296 (Figs. 14 and 32) having a projecting portion 298 to which is pivotally secured a vertically disposed rod 300 which is a portion of a doorstop type mechanism. The rod 300 extends into a cylinder 302 and at its end within the cylinder, it is held by a spring 304 which biases the rod upwardly.

A flat plate 306 having an opening through which the rod 300 passes is biased in a vertical direction by a spring 308 and is pivoted at its rear end on a pin 310. An arm 312 keyed to a shaft 314 at one end carries, at its other end, an adjustable rod 316 which contacts the plate 306 and both controls its vertically upward movement and causes its downward movement. At the other end of the shaft 314 (Fig. 15) is keyed an arm 318 which is connected by a spring 320 to the link 254 which in turn is coupled to the foot pedal 250 for operating the same. A compression spring 319 is connected between the arm 318 and the link 354. 7

When it is desired to clamp a book in position the foot pedal 258 is depressed and the shaft 314 is rotated sufficiently to rotate the arm 312 (Fig. 32) and depress the plate 306 whereby the vertical shaft 300 is moved upward by spring 304 and the rod 294 is thereby rotated and the book clamp 226 is brought down into clamping position (Fig. 23).

To release the book clamp 226, the shaft 168 is rotated counter-clockwise and the edge 280 of the arm 278 contacts with the edge 284 of the arm 282 and rotates the arm 282 in a clockwise direction and the roller 290 forces the cam 292 downwardly and thereby rotates the shaft 294 in a counter-clockwise direction and raises the book clamp.

Bin'der cutting apparatus A pair of binder end cutters 322 and 324 are provided positioned at each end of the book to be bound and oper ate after the helical binder has been threaded. The cutter 324 is positioned adjacent to the front end of the book into which the leading end of the bracket 326, having a side surface 330 is threaded. It comprises an L-shaped bracket (Figs. 24 and 25) pivoted on the oscillating shaft 168. The bracket 326 is provided with an adjustable stop screw 332 to limit its rotation toward the table top. The bracket is also provided with a pin 334 which extends perpendicularly to the side surface 330. To the 8 front surface 328 of the bracket 326 is secured a block 336 having a side surface 338 from which a pin 340 ex.- tends and a central projecting portion 342 extending downwardly therefrom whereby two shoulders 344 and 346 are provided on either side of the centralprojection. Plates 348 and 350 are secured to the fiat surfaces of the central projecting portion 342 of the block 336 and are spaced apart at their upper ends by an amount equal to the thickness of the central portion. The plates abut the shoulders 344 and 346 formed in the block. At their lower end, the plates are tapered to form jaws 352 and 354 respectively. A slot 356 (Figs. 26 and 27) extends through each plate from the front to the rear of the assembly and disposed at a slight angle to the vertical to approximate the angle of each turn of the helical binder. The jaw of the plate 348 is also tapered inwardly toward the jaw 354 of the plate 350 which is not tapered.

In the space between the two plates 348 and 350 is mounted a cutting blade 358 having an arm 360 and pivoted on a pin 362 (Fig. 28) extending through the plates. A tension spring 364 is connected between the pin 340 and the arm 360 of the cutting blade 358. The blade 358 is flush with the inner surface of the plate 348 and has jaw 365 and a cutaway portion 366 (Fig. 26) to allow it to move past the inwardly projecting jaw 352 of the cutting blade. A C-clamp (Fig. 27A) having a base 368 and arms 378 and 372 has the arm 372 secured to the arm 360 of the cutting blade 358 and a tension spring 374 is secured to the arm 378 of the clamp.

A holding clamp 376 (Fig. 27) having an arm 378 is pivoted on a pin 388 extending through the plates 348 and 350 and is forced against the arm 3720f the C- clamp by the spring 374. The holding blade has a jaw 382 positioned adjacent to the jaw 365 of the cutting blade 358 and adjacent to the slot 356 through the plates 348 and 350. A drive rod 384 is secured to a collar 386 which is keyed to the oscillating shaft 168 adjacent to the bracket 326 and extends parallel thereto. The rod 384 is positioned between the rod 334 and the arm 360 of the cutting blade.

In operation of the cutting mechanism, when the shaft 168 rotates counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 24 and the rod 384 rotates counter-clockwise, it moves the bracket 326 and the cutting blade 358 downwardly until the last turn of the helical binder slips into the groove 356 in the plates 348 and 350 and continued downward movement causes the holding clamp 376 to bear against the wire and hold itin position while the cutting blade 358 cuts the wire and crimps the end by forcing it into a space 388 between the jaws 352 and 354 (Fig. 26). As the shaft 168 rotates clockwise, the cutting mechanism is returned to its vertical position. The cutting mechanism 322 also includes a drive rod 390 and cutting apparatus 392 as described above similar to the cutting apparatus 324.

If desired, only one of the cutting assemblies need have the auxiliary holding clamp 376.

7 Book ejecting apparatus A bracket 394 (Figs. 14, 15 and 18) is pivotally mounted at one end 396 on the top member 14 and the other end 398 is positioned in contact with an ejector rod 400 which extends along the width of the table below the hook-like member 238. The ejector rod is bised rearwardly by a spring 482. A collar 404 (Fig. 15) keyed to the shaft 168 has a pointed arm 406 secured thereto which contacts the bracket 394 and which slips over the bracket without moving it when the shaft 168 rotates clockwise as shown in Fig. 15. When the shaft rotates counter-clockwise, then the pointed arm pushes the bracket which in turn drives the ejector rod to push the book off the hook 238.

Electrical circuit Referring to Fig. 34, the electrical circuit employed for operating the machine described herein includes ter minals 410 and 411 to which power lines (not shown) are connected to provide electrical power. The input terminal 410 is coupled through a main switch 412 through a lead 414 to one side of the motor 76 the other side of which is coupled through a lead 416 to the power terminal 411. The motor is thus electrically energized. The timer 2% is energized by a lead 421 through a master timer switch 425 through a lead 431 to the power terminal 4-19. A lead 423 couples the timer to the power terminal 411. Thus the timer is electrically energized. The cam switch 293 and a push button switch 433 are connected in parallel with each other by leads 435 and 437 and in series with the timer switch 425 and either of the switches 293 or 433 may be employed to set the tirner into operation. A lead 439 connected through the timer to the power terminal 41% runs from the timer to the spiral forming solenoid 102 which is connected by a lead 441 to the power terminal 411. The one-revolution clutch solenoid 190 is connected by a lead 443 to the power terminal 410 and by a lead 445 to a safety switch 418 which is coupled by the parallelconnected foot switch 271 and the contact switch 247 to the power terminal 411. Thus the clutch solenoid 199 is energized.

In operation of the circuit, when the foot pedal 251) is depressed, the book clamp 226 is depressed and holds a book in position and the safety switch 418 is closed. The contact switch 247 is closed when the helical binder is fully threaded through the book (or by operation of the foot pedal in an emergency) and the solenoid 190 which operates the one-revolution clutch is energized. At this time, the following operations take place:

(1) The main shaft oscillates and:

a. The helical binder cutters 322 and 324 are operated;

b. A helical binder just formed is cut ofl from the main wire;

0. The cam 20% operates the cam switch 203 which energizes the solenoid 192 which controls the binder forming operation;

d. Raises the book clamp;

e. Ejects the book which has been bound.

When it is desired to employ the binding machine to thread a binder through the pages of a book, it is first necessary to form a helical binder coil and let it slide down the bridge to the binding area and then to form another coil in the die 116 without cutting it from the wire 30. This is accomplished by two successive manipulations of the foot switch 271.

A group of pages to be bound are then hooked on the hook 238 at one end and pressed up against the stop member 246. The foot pedal is then pressed to (1) release the book clamp to hold the pages in position and (2) bring the roller mechanism 394 into contact with the binder prepared to be threaded into the book pages. Then, when the binder reaches the end of the book, it strikes the contact switch 247 and the above-mentioned operations occur.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the condition of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, means for suspending a book comprising a plurality of superposed sheets having rows of registering openings forming a row of passages through said book, means for forming at one end of a length of wire, a helical portion, means to cut a helical piece from said portion to form a helical binder adapted to bind said sheets together, means for directing the cut binder from said forming means to the vicinity of said suspend ing means, means for threading said helical binder through said row of passages in the book suspended by said suspending means, and means controlled by said threaded binder to control said forming and cutting means.

2. In combination, means for suspending a book of superposed sheets having rows of registering openings forming a row of passages through said book, means for clamping said book in suspended position, means for forming at one end of a length of wire, a helical portion, means to cut a helical piece from said portion to form a coiled helical binder, said forming means including a die member, means for directing a wire through said forming means, means interconnecting said forming means and said book suspending means for directing a cut helical binder from the die to said book, means for threading said binder through said book, and means controlled by a binder threaded through said book to control operation of said forming and cutting means.

3. In combination, a housing for forming a wire binder, means for feeding a wire into said housing, means associated with said housing for forming said wire into a wire binder, means associated with said housing for cutting said binder to a predetermined length, means adjacent to said housing for supporting a plurality of pages to be bound together and having aligned openings through which said wire binder is adapted to be threaded, means positioned between said housing and said supporting means for directing said cut wire binder from said housing where it is formed, to said pages, means for threading said cut hinder through said openings in said pages, means controlled by the threaded cut hinder to initiate the actuation of the cutting means and forming means, and means adjacent to the ends of said pages for trimming the ends of said binder after it has been threaded through said pages.

4. In combination, means for forming a wire coil binder, means for feeding a wire to said forming means, means for cutting said coil binder to a predetermined length, means operatively associated with said forming means for supporting a plurality of pages to be bound together and having rows of aligned openings forming passages through which said binder is adapted to be threaded, means positioned between said forming means and said pages for directing said out binder thereto, means for threading said cut binder through said openings in said pages, means controlled by the threaded cut binder to initiate the actuation of the cutting means and forming means, and means adjacent to the ends of said pages for trimming the ends of said binder after it has been threaded through said openings, one of said lastnamed means having means for clamping an end of said binder in position while it is being trimmed.

5. In combination, a housing including means for forming a coil binder, a die supported by said housing and including a portion adapted to form a wire into a coil binder, means for feeding a wire into said die, means adjacent to said die for cutting said binder to a predetermined length, means adjacent to said housing for supporting a book comprising a plurality of leaves having aligned openings forming passages through which said binder is adapted to be threaded, means adjacent to the ends of said book for trimming the ends of said binder after it has been threaded therethrough, one said last named means including a clamp member for holding an end of said binder in position while it is being trimmed, means positioned between said housing and said supporting means for directing said binder thereto, means for threading said binder through said pages comprising a resilient roller mechanism having means for vibrating said binder in its passage through said openings in said book pages, and means adjacent to one end of said book adapted to be contacted by the leading end of said binder for initiating the operation of selected ones of said means.

6. In. combination, means for suspending a. book .of superposed sheets having rows of registering openings forming a row or passages through said book, means for forming helical wire, means for cutting off a predetermined length of helical wire, means for threading the cut-off length of helical wire into the passages of the suspended book, and means controlled by the wire threaded through the book for actuating the cut-off means for cutting off an already formed length of helical wire, and for actuating the wire forming means for form ing a new length of helical wire.

7. In combination, means to suspend a book of leaves having rows of openings forming a row of passages, means for forming a helical coil at one end of a length of wire during a predetermined period of time, means for cutting ofi a first length of said formed wire, means for guiding said first length of formed wire away from said cutting means, means for operating the forming means for another predetermined length of time to form another length of helical wire, means for threading the first length of cut helical wire through the passages of the book to bind the same, and means controlled by said threaded wire to actuate the cut-oil means for cutting the second formed wire, and to again operate the forming means to form another length of wire.

8. In combination, means to suspend a book of superimposed leaves having rows of openings forming a row of passages, means to form helical wire at one end of a length of wire, means to cut oil a piece of formed helical wire to provide a predetermined length of helical wire, means to thread the cut length of helical wire 12 into the passages of the book, means controlled by said threaded wire to initiate the operation of said forming means to form another length of helical wire from said length of wire, and means controlled by the threaded wire to operate the cut off means to cut off a succeeding predetermined length of formed wire.

9. The combination of claim 8, in combination with means for cutting off the ends of said threaded wire and crimping in the cut ends thereof, and means controlled by the threaded wire to actuate said last means.

10. The combination of claim 8, in combinationwith means to clamp the book of leaves in said suspended position.

11. The combination of claim 10, in combination with means controlled by said threaded wire to release the clamping means. i

12. The combination of claim 11, in combination with means to eject the book with the helical wire bound therein after the clamping means is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,810 Wright Oct. 21, 1902 2,107,217 Salsman Feb. 1, 1938 2,262,994 Dickey Nov. 18, 1941 2,300,544 Freundlich Nov. 3, 1942 2,532,443 Freundlich Dec. 5, 1950 2,649,120 November Aug. 18, 1953 2,730,142 Berberich Jan. 10, 1956 

